This is not the first time a Southern Door referendum has failed. Referendum questions for revenue cap overrides failed in 2011 and 2013. The most recent referendum to passed was in November 2014, when the Southern Door community approved a $390,000 one-year non-recurring revenue cap override for the 2015-16 school year.

This time Southern Door asked voters to approve a $936,000 revenue cap override for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 shool years.The referendum was to cover the deficit for the next two years and maintain current programming and staffing. The projected deficit for the 2017-18 is $936,000 and the 2018-19 school year deficit is expected to be higher.

Both Southern Door School Board President Tammy Sternard and Superintendent Patti Vickman expect the School Board to have to make tough decisions moving forward.

“As a board member, I felt strongly that it was important for the community to help define the future direction and the level of services provided to our students,” Sternard said.

No formal discussions have taken place about how the board might address the district's projected deficit, she said.

“I’m not sure if it was a low voter turnout or what the situation was," Vickman said. "It's disappointing how close it was and we lost by such a short amount of votes.”

District's needing financial support outside of what the state provides is not unique to Southern Door, she said.

“We at Southern Door are facing what other rural communities are facing, in that the burden for supporting” a school district falls on the citizens, she said. The state not providing its "fair share."

Vickman plans to address her staff Wednesday afternoon.

“We have a wonderful staff that is dedicated to the children and we will always do whatever it takes to make sure that our children always have a great experience at our school,” she said.

Sternard expects the board to address the referendum results at a future meeting.

Washington Island

Washington Island School District voters approved the district exceeding the revenue cap by $538,500 for the 2017-18 school year and $570,500 for the 2018-19 school year.

The referendum was approved 258 to 139.

“I think it's fantastic and I’m extremely thankful that our community supported our school and we are looking to do great things over the next two years,” Washington Island Superintendent Mati Palm-Leis said.